Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Wisden Cricketers’ Almanacks,
Football & Sporting Memorabilia
Held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
22nd, 23rd & 24th March 2024
Lot 253
Estimate: £600/900
Hammer: £1400
George John Bonnor. New South Wales & Australia 1881-1891. An excellent sepia cabinet card photograph of Bonnor, half length wearing blazer with flower to label. Inscribed to the lower border ‘G.J. Bonnor, autograph on back’, Signed and dedicated to verso in black ink ‘With my kindest regards to Harry Hislop, June 29th 1884 and signed G.J. Bonnor’. The cabinet card by Stilliard & Co, Oxford. 4.25”x6.5”. Minor wear to corners of the cabinet card , minor surface marks to image otherwise in good/ very good condition. The cabinet card photograph was stored in a small brown envelope with details of the photograph in black ink with inscription signed by Joe Goldman and dated 20th October 1971, so this card may well have been part of the Joe Goldman collection. An early and very rare signature of an Australian colossus
George Bonnor was known for his big hitting, who played Test cricket for Australia between 1880 and 1888. Being very tall for the 19th century at 6 foot 6 inches he was also exceedingly strong and made the most of it with some powerful hitting, however at times his cavalier attitude led to some periods of poor scores as well. Bonnor signed this card on the 29th June 1884, the day after playing for Australia against The Gentlemen of England at the Oval. The match was drawn, Bonnor made 0 and 30 in the game